AN unbroken double century stand between Alex Collins and Clinton Perren saw Littleborough romp to a nine-wicket win at Walsden on Sunday.

AN unbroken double century stand between Alex Collins and Clinton Perren saw Littleborough romp to a nine-wicket win at Walsden on Sunday.

They shared in a second-wicket partnership of 206 as Boro made light of the home side's promising total to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

Perren was the main aggressor. He hit 21 boundaries in his 126.

But Alex Collins proved a more than useful ally with a fine knock of 61 in which he gave only one real catching chance.

On an overcast day at Scott Street it was no surprise when Littleborough asked Walsden to take first knock. This proved a wise decision when Mark Hooson departed in the fourth over, caught by Perren at slip off Matthew Collins' bowling.

This early breakthrough seemed to do the hosts more good than Littleborough. Professional Shaun Marsh joined Stuart Hanson at the crease and after a watchful start they proceeded to take the Boro bowlers to task.

Hanson had an almighty let-off when he played-on to a no-ball, but both batsmen made the most of the short boundaries and some fairly ordinary bowling. They pushed the total well past the 100 mark before Littleborough claimed the second wicket.

Marsh, the son of former Australian opener Geoff Marsh, was the man to depart when his lofted drive was well taken by Andy Rodgerson on the long-off boundary.

As often happens, Hanson was out soon after. He chipped Nigel Hunter off his legs only for Matthew Collins to take a fine catch high above his head on the square leg boundary.

By this time David Blake had arrived at the crease and he took up the mantle vacated by Marsh and Hanson as he shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 51 with Nick Barker. Blake found gaps in the field as he pushed his side well past the 150-mark.

Barker then became Danny Francis' first victim when a wild slash outside the off-stump was well caught by Nick Grindrod.

Andrew Butcher helped Blake take Walsden past 200 before he was trapped leg before in the final over.

The innings closed with Blake hitting Phil Deakin out of the ground, but there was a feeling Walsden's total of 208 was some way short of what had looked likely at one stage.

Walsden needed early wickets if they were to have a chance of winning the game and they struck in the second over.

Tony Plane's pace was too much for Nigel Hunter who was trapped leg before by a low, straight delivery.

Perren despatched the first ball he faced to the boundary and this set the tone for a remarkable display from the Littleborough professional.

Seemingly reluctant to do any sort of running, Perren's first 40 runs all came in fours and he raced to his half-century in 14 overs.

He should have been back in the dressing room soon after, but Marsh spilled a simple catch at mid-wicket. This proved to be a crucial mistake by the Walsden professional.

Perren and Alex Collins kept the scoreboard ticking over at a rapid rate and the body language of the Walsden players visibly changed.

The Littleborough captain hit Marsh to the boundary three times in the 32nd over to bring up the 150, as well as his own ton. A couple of overs later Collins reached his 50 with a delightfully struck four over long-on.

Collins offered a difficult catching chance to David Blake, with the score on 194, but it mattered little as the visitors cruised home with nine wickets and 10 overs to spare.